'They Don't Have the Guts': Labor and One Nation Clash Over Secret Harbour Debate Challenge
WA Labor State Secretary Mark Reed and One Nation leader Rod Caddies traded sharp statements with the Baldivis Times hours apart, as the fight over a proposed Secret Harbour by-election debate turns personal.
By Wade McColl (24/07/2026)
Luke Herdegen, One Nation Secret Harbour candidate. Georgia Tree, Labor Secret Harbour candidate. Photo: Supplied 2026.
Less than 24 hours after Secret Harbour Labor candidate Georgia Tree issued a public video challenging all 15 other candidates on the ballot to a debate, two of the most direct exchanges yet in this by-election campaign landed in quick succession.
Labor Hits Back at One Nation
WA Labor State Secretary Mark Reed released a statement squarely targeting the One Nation campaign: "It's pretty clear from Rod Caddies' response that Luke doesn't have the guts for a debate. If you're afraid to rock up and test your ideas, how do you expect to be able to fight for Secret Harbour?"
Reed argued the seat is genuinely competitive and Labor is investing accordingly:
"We've publicly said that this is a tight seat and we're throwing everything at it." He contrasted that with One Nation's recent campaign activity: "What have One Nation done this week? Half an hour on a street in the electorate shooting a video, and then a press conference with their candidate at a Business Breakfast at Crown Perth." His conclusion was blunt: "One Nation talks a big game about transparency but they have shown their candidate can't handle scrutiny."
Georgia Tree added her own, more personal comments:
"I'm out door knocking and talking to the community every day. I grew up here, went to school here, and worked most of my adult life here. I'm serious about fighting for this community. And serious people turn up and have a debate. Other candidates have already contacted us to participate, and good on them."
One Nation Calls the Challenge a "Stunt"
Luke Herdegen, One Nation Secret Harbour candidate. Photo: Supplied by Rod Caddies 2026.
One Nation WA leader Rod Caddies rejects that framing entirely. In a statement provided to Baldivis Times, Caddies described the public debate challenge as "peak wealthy, inner-city entitlement," arguing there's a standard process campaigns should follow instead:
"If you actually want to organise a debate, there is a way to do it. One campaign contacts the other. You talk about terms, moderators, time, and venue. You sort it out like adults."
Caddies took particular issue with the timeline, noting Tree's follow-up post came roughly 24 hours after her initial video:
"It is arrogant beyond belief to expect every other campaign to scramble in response to a single video." He went further, framing the entire challenge as a deflection tactic: "It's the same reason they're spending $300,000 to defend a supposedly 'safe' seat. They're scared... The Tree campaign is trying to create a distraction to shift attention from its campaign's performance. We will remain focused on the voters."
Where the Debate Stands
Wade McColl, Founder and Director of Baldivis Times. Photo by Myah Loo, Baldivis Times 2026.
Baldivis Times has been asked to moderate the proposed debate and has invited every candidate on the Secret Harbour ballot to take part on identical terms. So far, Georgia Tree (Labor) and Craig Buchanan (Legalise Cannabis WA) have confirmed. We'll continue to update this story as other campaigns respond.